RULES AND GUIDELINES

DESCRIPTION

The Cosplay OTP (Onstage Tag Pairing) Contest is an open competition with the goal of creating a fun atmosphere where cosplayers can perform on-stage with other cosplayers using a mechanic called a “cosplay tag.”

Once all cosplayers are given the opportunity to show off their amazing moves, the panel of judges will then decide the best in class for each category.

Sticking with what made cosplay OTP standout and as well as with an emphasis on fun and in order to create a welcoming atmosphere for newer cosplayers, there will be multiple prizes awarded including best cosplay mash-up/gender-bend, etc.

REGISTRATION

Contest registration is available online for a limited time and on the day of the contest itself.

For Online Pre-registration:

 To Pre-register, Click HERE

The following information must be submitted through the form to pre-register for the contest:

1. The competitor's real name;
2. The competitor's stage name;
3. The competitor's working contact details (mobile phone AND email);
4. The competitor’s off-stage assistant’s name (OPTIONAL)
5. The name of the character that the cosplayer is cosplaying as (or in the case of a mash-up, the names of the characters involved in the mash-up);
6. The series from which the character or characters (in the case of a mash-up) came from;
7. A full-body photo of the cosplayer in their costume

NOTE: Online registrants are still REQUIRED to confirm their participation for the contest on the day itself and are asked to approach the contest registration table before 1:30 PM, otherwise FORFEITING their slot to give way to on-site registrants, which closes by 2 PM.

For on-site registration:

For on-site contest registration, contestants may approach the registration table on Day 1, April 30, 2022, starting at 11 am, and accomplish a physical form with the following information:

1. The competitor's real name;
2. The competitor's stage name;
3. The competitor's working contact details (mobile phone AND email);
4. The competitor’s off-stage assistant’s name (OPTIONAL)
5. The name of the character that the cosplayer is cosplaying as (or in the case of a mash-up, the names of the characters involved in the mash-up);
6. The series from which the character or characters (in the case of a mash-up) came from;
7. A full-body photo of the cosplayer in their costume

The information above must be truthful; falsifying any of the information will result in instant disqualification and the contestant will not be allowed to join the succeeding year's competition as an additional penalty. All registration information will be kept in the strictest of confidence and other competitors will not be informed whether a particular competitor has entered the contest or not. 

ATTENDANCE, ASSISTANTS, AND CALL TIMES

• All contestants and assistants will be required to confirm their attendance at the Cosplay registration desk on April 30, 2022, by 1:30 PM

• They must be present at the holding area by 3:50 PM to prepare for the catwalk in full costume. Please take note that all contestants are still required to purchase an entrance ticket to the event.

• Failure to arrive prior to the call time may be grounds for disqualification for the contest.

• Regardless if said contestant already has an ID number, indicating that he/she is participating in the contest.

• The only exception where a competitor may still join the contest even if late to arrive for the call time is due to a medical concern. Given that the said competitor can still perform/participate on stage.

• If unable or nurse mentioned that competitor may not perform/participate due to health concern, we will have to pull said competitor out of the contest.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. Registered cosplay must be General Patronage in rating, and shall not depict any form of obscenity, political messages or endorsements, hate symbols and/or speech, excessive blood and gore, and any kind of extreme kind of fanservice (ie. kissing, PDA, etc.) that is deemed inappropriate for minors. Cosplay.ph management has the right to disqualify any participant on this ground.

2. All kinds of costume props must be handled with utmost care and must not be harmful to his/her fellow contestants, event staff, and event attendees. Any kind of sharp and/or bladed objects that will be used as costume props that could cut human flesh are strictly prohibited. Any kind of pyrotechnic equipment/s that will be used as costume props that could render damage to the venue and/or property is strictly prohibited.

3. The organizers, Cosplay.PH management and its staff will not be held responsible for damage or injury resulting from mishandling and/or negligence of a cosplayer in his/her use of props/materials throughout the duration of the event.

4. Contestants under eighteen (18) years of age as of the event date must have their parent/s and/or legal guardian/s sign the waiver/image release form to be provided at the registration table.

5. Cosplay.PH management reserves the right to disqualify any contestant who ignores and/or violates any of the aforementioned guidelines above also including but not limited to:

• Unsportlike conduct towards other competitors
• “No Photography and video recording” policy (while at the backstage area and/or when host/MC made a public announcement during the program)
• Unruly behavior towards competitors, organizers, and staff
• Violation of any of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions

• In the event of the cosplayer not being able to wear a mask due to the character they’re cosplaying (i.e mechs, full visored headgears, etc.), they’re advised to NOT do cosplay tagging.

6. Registration and participation in this contest constitute that the contestant gives the right and the authority to the organizers/staff, its sponsors, and authorized press media to take pictures and/or videos of registered contestants, teams, and its members and will be the sole property of the organizers/staff, its sponsors and authorized press media to be used for future publications and/or advertising promotions.
7. Organizers, their staff, and their relatives up to the 2nd degree of affinity or consanguinity are disqualified from participating in the competition. This includes parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, uncles or aunts, first cousins, nephews or nieces, and brother or sister.

COSPLAY CATWALK GUIDELINES

1. The competition is restricted to a maximum of fifty (50) contestants.
2. Each contestant is provided up to one (1) minute to perform on-stage.
3. Due to health reasons, microphone usage will NOT be allowed for the contest
4. Once the contestant is finished with his stage performance, he or she must make a “cosplay tag” where he or she must interact with the next contestant before going off-stage.
5. The “cosplay tag” must be any interaction such as a short fight scene, or a fist bump. But at one point the previous cosplayer must “tag in” the next contestant with some physical contact. This “cosplay tag” must only be from ten (10) to twenty (20) seconds in duration.
6. The “cosplay tag” must not be harmful to the other contestant’s costume or person nor should they present either contestant in a derogatory or shameful manner. As noted in the general guidelines above, any form of extreme fan service is also not allowed.
7. Each contestant can only have a maximum of one (1) off-stage assistance.
8. Messy props and acts that can cause damage to property are not allowed in the contest (see above under General Guidelines 1-3).

JUDGING CRITERIA

A panel of judges will judge the contest with the following criteria in mind:

1. Costume Quality (50%): Faithfulness to the source material as well as the quality of details, difficulty, durability, and mobility of the costume.

2. Performance (40%): Overall entertainment value of the stage performance including projection, facial expression as well as the quality, creativity, and originality of the skit.

3. Cosplay Tagmanship (10%): The quality of the cosplay tag performance. Both contestants will be given individual cosplay tagmanship scores, but the highest combined total will also be given a special award (see below.)

JUDGING PENALTIES

In addition to the judging scores, penalties will be imposed on the following rule infractions:

1. Exceeding Time Limit (10% Infraction): For every one (1) minute or fraction thereof that the performance exceeds the time limit of one (1) minute, a 10% score deduction will be applied.
2. Unsportsmanlike Conduct (10% Infraction): For actions that are demeaning to the other teams or that incite conflict in the competition, a 10% score deduction will be applied. If this unsportsmanlike conduct continues, it may result in disqualification and ejection from the venue grounds.
3. Intentional Violation of Contest Rules (20% Infraction plus 1-Season Suspension): For proven cases of cheating, dishonesty, and sabotage, a 20% score deduction will be applied. In addition, the offending contestant will be given a 1-Season Suspension where they will be unable to join the competition for the remainder of the competition as well as the next year's competition.

Cosplay OTP judges’ decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

AWARDS

At the end of the event, the scores will be tabulated and the highest scores based on the following criteria will be given awards. The awards will be as follows:

1. Best Male Award (1 winner)
2. Best Female Award (1 winner)
3. Best Kid Award (12 years old or younger) (1 winner)
4. Best Craftsmanship Award (1 winner)
5. Best Performance Award (1 winner)
6. Best Cosplay Mash-Up/Genderbender Award (1 winner)
7. OTPick Award (1 winners)

*All winners must be present for the awarding ceremony and must be in full costume. If the winner is not present during the awarding ceremony, the next highest scoring competitor will be awarded the prize instead. If there is a compelling reason for the contestant not to be present during the awarding ceremony, they will be required to inform an organizer beforehand and provide a proxy for themselves during the awarding ceremony.

Rules are subject to change and revisions without prior notice.

For any inquiries regarding the Cosplay OTP, pls contact us at: hello@cosplay.ph

The Cosplay OTP Rules and Guidelines are the sole property of Cosplay.ph® and Cosplay Philippines®.

The guidelines cannot be copied and/or replicated and/or reproduced for any other event and/or contest without the consent and/or permission from its parent owners.